Dionysus

{dy-uh-ny′-suhs}

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Dionysus was the ancient Greek god of fertility, ritual dance, and mysticism. He also supposedly invented wine making and was considered the patron of poetry, song, and drama.

In Orphic legend Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Persephone; in other legends, of Zeus and Semele. Among the 12 gods on Mount Olympus, he was depicted as a handsome youth often carried in a leopard-drawn chariot. Dressed in fawnskin shirt and holding drinking cup and thyrsus (staff), he was typically accompanied by deer and attended by Pan, satyrs, and maenads. Ariadne was his only romantic love.

One legend maintained that Dionysus died at the hands of the Titans, who tore him apart, roasted the pieces, and began to eat them. At that point Zeus intervened, saved some of the pieces, and had Apollo bury them at Delphi. There, it was believed, Dionysus arose from the dead each year and reigned during the winter months while Apollo was away. Two celebrations were regularly held in Athens in his honor: the Greater Dionysia (March) and Lesser Dionysia (December).

The Dionysian festivities were often orgiastic; worshippers were sometimes overcome with ecstasy and enthusiasm or religious fervor. The central feature of his worship was called sparagmos: the tearing apart of a live animal, the eating of its flesh, and the drinking of its blood; participants believed they were in fact partaking of the god's body and blood. Plays were also staged at these festivals.

In Rome, Dionysus was called both Bacchus and Liber. His worship in Rome continued until the 1st century A.D.

How to cite this article:

MLA (Modern Language Association) style:

Wolverton, Robert E. "Dionysus." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.

Chicago Manual of Style:

Wolverton, Robert E. "Dionysus." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0086020-0 (accessed October 13, 2010).

APA (American Psychological Association) style:

Wolverton, R. E. (2010). Dionysus. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 13, 2010, from Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0086020-0